Hydrogenization and dehydrogenization of carbon compounds.



. catalytic metal can be mixed with such' No Drawing.

' UNITED STATES] PATENT OFFICE.

CARL BOSCH, ALWIN MITTASCH, AND CHRISTIAN SCHNEIDER, OF LUDWIGSHAFEN-ON-THE-RHINE, GERMANY, ASSIGNORS TO BADISCHE ANILIN & SODA. FABRIK, OFLUDWIGSHAFEN-ON-THE-RHINE, GERMANY, A CORPORATION.

HYDROGENIZATION AND DEHYDROGENIZATION OF CARBON COMPOUNDS.

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that We, CARL Boson, ALWIN MrrrAsoH, and CHRISTIANSCHNEIDER, citi- Zens of the German Empire, residing at'Ludwigshafen-on-the-Rhine, Germany, have invented new and usefulImprovements in the Hydrogenization and Dehydrogenization of CarbonCompounds, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to the hydrogenization and dehydrogenization inthe presence of a catalytic agent of compounds contain-' ing carbon, andto catalytic. mixtures by means of which the said hydrogenization anddehydrogenization can be carried out rapidly, with certainty and atcomparatively low temperatures. We have discovered that these advantagescan be obtained by employing as the catalytic agent an intimate" mlxtureof a common metal, in particular iron, nickel, cobalt and copper (whichwe hereinafter refer to as the catalytic metal),

with a phosphate of an alkaline earth metal.

mixture of the catalytic metal and the promoter. If calcium phosphate beemployed as the promoter the oxid or carbonate of the solid calciumphosphate and the mixture thereupon be heated and reduced. A still 7'better method consists for instance, in taking an insoluble, salt, suchas the carbonate, or an oxid of the catalytic metal, and adding to it asolution of a calcium salt, for instance, calcium nitrate, and then toadd the necessary quantity of phosphoric acid, either as s ch or in theform of ammonium phosphate, alkali metal phosphate or the like, in

order to convert the calcium into phosphate. It is preferred to employbasic phosphates, such for instance, as tri-calcium phosphate, aspromoters. j

It is particularly advantageous for the purpose of preparing a very active contact mass to prepare the catalytic metal from carbonaceous saltsor mixtures of salts thereof, for instance, from carbonates or fromformates. It is further often useful to add to the mixture, bodies ofinorganic. or organic nature, which act either as car v .t'rate furtherthe nature of this which however, is not confined to this ex-vSpecification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb 13. 1917 Application filedJune 4, 1914. Serial No. 843,024.

riers, or as binding agents, or. which increase the porosity of thecontact mass. We mention, for instance, asbestos, charcoal and pumice.It is advisable, however, to avoid the introduction of bodies such aschlorin, sulfur, arsenic and lead, which may in the elementary form actas contact poisons, although the new contact mixtures according to thepresent invention are not so sensitive to theaction of poisons as arethe pure metals. I

The catalytic metal can be employed either in a state of fine division,or in a more compact form, such as wire netting, or wool, or in sheetform.-

The proportion of the components employed in the catalytic mixture maybe considerably varied.

In those cases in which reduction has to be resorted to in order toobtain the catalytic metal, such reduction is preferably carried out bymeans of pure hydrogen, or other' su1table agentat .as low a temperatureas possible, and if the catalytic mixture after having been reduced withhydrogen, has to be exposed to the air, it is generally advis- .ablepreviously to drive away any excess of hydrogen by passing anindifferent gas such as carbon dioxid over the mixture and thus to avoideven superficial oxidation of the metal. I

The catalytic mixtures according to this invention can be used for thehydrogenization and dehydrogenization of compounds containing carbon andare of particular value for the hardening. of fats and fatty acids, butthey can also be used for other purposes.

The catalytic reaction according to this invention can be carried outeither at ordinary pressure, or under increased pressure, for instance,above 50 atmospheres and in most cases proceeds sufiiciently rapidly attemperatures below 180 C.-

The following example will serve to illusinvention,

ample. The parts'are by weight.

v Example. Suspend '5 parts of nickel'carbonate in a solution of 1.3parts ofcalcium nitrate, and

then. precipitate the calcium' by the addition of 0.7 parts of ammoniumphosphate.

(NI-I H PO Then filter, wash well, d y and reduce with hydrogen at about350 Then employ the mass in the reduction of cottonseed oil by means ofhydrogen at about 130 C.

Now what we claim is 1. A catalytic agent for use in the hydrogenizationand dehydrogenization of com group and a phosphate of an alkaline earthI metal.

3. A catalytic agent for use in the hydrogenizati0n anddehydrogenization of compounds contalning carbon, comprising an intimatemixture of nickel'and a phosphate of analkaline earth metal.

4. A catalytic agent for use in the hydrogenization anddehydrogenization of compounds containing carbon, comprising an intimatemixture of nickel and calcium phosphate.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses:

Cu. BECK, J. Ame. LLOYD.

